15 Planet Rock 82 Aprill Dr., Ann Arbor, (734) 827-2680. www.planet-rock.com. One of the biggest indoor climbing gyms in North America. Trained staff combined with five-story walls make Planet Rock unforgettable. Savor Ann Arbor Tours and Tasting (734) 709-4739. www.savorannarbor.com. Offers custom tours of Ann Arbor and U-M for groups of all sizes. Tours highlight local history, architecture, shopping, and food. Underground Railroad Bus Tour African American Cultural and Historical Museum of Washtenaw County (734) 761-1717. www.aachmuseum.org. Take the "Journey to Freedom” tour that visits area historical stops on the Underground Railroad. Hear the legends, learn the facts, and explore its history. Guided bus tours, from Apr to Oct, are $20 each.
University of Michigan Detroit Observatory 1398 E. Ann St., Ann Arbor, (734) 764-3482. www.bentley.umich.edu/observatory/. Today the building stands essentially as it was in 1854 with the original astronomical instruments intact and operational. Completely restored in 1998. Open for tours twice a month. University of Michigan Kelsey Museum of Archaeology 434 S. State St., Ann Arbor, (734) 764-9304. www.lsa.umich.edu/kelsey. Houses a collection of nearly 100,000 ancient and medieval objects from the civilizations of the Mediterranean and the Near East in the new state-of-the-art William E. Upjohn Exhibit Wing. University of Michigan Matthaei Botanical Gardens 1800 N. Dixboro Rd., Ann Arbor, (734) 647-7600. www.lsa.umich.edu/mbg/. Offers a beautiful 10,000 sq. ft. indoor conservatory, walking trails, extensive formal gardens, a children’s garden, displays, exhibits, and a gift shop.
University of Michigan Museum of Art 525 S. State St., Ann Arbor, (734) 764-0395. www.umma.umich.edu. Containing nearly 19,000 works of art, the museum features works by Picasso, Monet, Whistler, and many others. Built in 1909 as a memorial to honor the University’s Civil War fallen. In 2009, the UMMA underwent a $41.9 million expansion. Its 94,000 sq. ft. of exhibit space make it one of the largest university art museums in the U.S. Open Tue– Sat, 10am–5pm, Sun, 12pm–5pm. Closed Mon. Admission is free, $5.00 suggested donation. University of Michigan Museum of Natural History and Planetarium 1109 Geddes Ave., Ann Arbor, (734) 764-0478. www.lsa.umich.edu/exhibitmuseum. Features exhibits on dinosaurs and prehistoric life, Michigan wildlife, anthropology, and geology. The planetarium offers a 360-degree domed screen that surrounds the audience. Outdoor space features a butterfly garden with over 55 herbaceous perennials on display.
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University of Michigan Nichols Arboretum Washington Hgts. at Nichols Dr., Ann Arbor, (734) 647-7600. www.lsa.umich.edu/mbg. "The Arb" offers a 123-acre living museum comprising trails, riverfront, and peony and lilac gardens. Urban Fairy Doors Throughout downtown Ann Arbor, (734) 995-7281. www.urban-fairies.com. A unique, fanciful attraction. Search out the tiny doors found on the fronts of select businesses throughout the city. Open them to reveal delightful “fairy homes.” Consult website for locations. The Wave Field Hayward Ave., Ann Arbor. Designed by artist Maya Lin (Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall), the outdoor waves of earth sculpture is a relaxing place located on U-M’s North Campus.
When did we start taking life so seriously? Fun is supposed to be fun. And it is, if you know where to find it.
Like the Big 400. That’s 400-square miles of Southern Michigan at its finest, from the Waterloo and Pinckney recreation areas to the upper reaches of the River Raisin. When you need a little more fun in your fun, there’s one place to go. Not so far off the interstate, but worlds away from the everyday.
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thebig400